Best Live Theater: Valley Youth Theatre

Valley Youth Theatre is rightly proud of its celebrity alums, such as Emma Stone, Jordin Sparks, Max Crumm ("Grease: You're the One That I Want!") and Chelsea Kane ("Baby Daddy"). But even more important to longtime artistic director Bobb Cooper is the professional ethic he instills in young performers, which they take with them to careers both in and out of the arts.

Cooper also prides himself on bringing professional production values to his shows, which include little-kid shows such as "How I Became a Pirate" (Oct. 12-28) as well as a pair of more grown-up musicals every season on Center Stage at the Herberger Theater Center, including recent runs of "Hairspray" and "Legally Blonde."